If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Low Platelets

Bosco had bloods taken by our vet last Friday, as a routine thing because he's on medication for SM - Lyrica and Trocoxil. I got a call today to say that all was well apart from the fact that his platelet count is low, so we are going back in on Friday to repeat the test.
Thanks to Karlin (http://www.cavaliertalk.com/forums/s...lets-important!) and others, I know that this can be normal for some cavaliers, so I'm not worried yet, but was wondering, is it possible to have had a normal blood count last time, and now have it coming in low?

...I know that this can be normal for some cavaliers, so I'm not worried yet, but was wondering, is it possible to have had a normal blood count last time, and now have it coming in low?

I agree with Nicki about the counts. If both counts were manual, then the question arises: how good was the person doing the manual counting? Low platelets are so common in this breed that, unless the dog exhibits symptoms like lethargy or small red or purple spots on it, caused by broken capillary blood vessels, the dog is not ill.

Hello there, i want to ask something about this topic. i had read http://cavalierhealth.org/platelets.htm link before so i knew about low platelets in cavaliers. Last december for an annual check we had Duses' blood test that showed us PLT number was 20 which should have been 200-500 in Turkey. Ok not a suprise but MPV (Mean Platelets Volume) is (now i am looking at the test result) 7,5 which is between normal values (3,9- 11,1). here are my first question; if the number of platelets is low, MPV should have been high, right?
Second question; is there any chance to be MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) and MCH(Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) high as in Duses' test MCV is 80 (should have been between 60-77) and MCH is 25,2 ( should have been between 19,5-24,5).
Third Question; in the test LYM (lymphocyte) is also high; 6,7 (should have been between 1 - 4) . One of my friend's cavalier's blood test is the similar and their vet had said this could be a autoimmune disease (lymphocytes break the platelets as lymphocyte thinks platelets are stange organisms, that's why platelets numbers are low) they send blood sample to pathology and pathology confirmed it. The cavalier was on steroids for a month and nothing changed. Now they are waiting like 15 days as a break and then will start a treatmant again. I am concern now if this is true my baby might have the same disease. However, on the other hand, Duses does not show any symptom like red or purple dots on skin. In fact, she had patella and spaying surgeries last year without any problem including clotting. She seems like a very healty girl...I will discuss this with my vet but also i wanted to ask you.

I think those vets urgently need to contact a cavalier club before they start any dog back on steroids, or yours. They need to clearly understand what is normal in this breed.

If nothing is outwardly wrong with the dog and the ONLY issue is blood test readings -- and they have not done a hand count of platelets as is often necessary with cavaliers -- there is almost certainly absolutely no reason to stick dogs on treatments.

I would have your friend print out the info on platelets and give it to her vet (and I would refuse such treatment -- especially steroids which eventually have many potentially risky side effects! -- on a dog if there was no other problem except blood test results). I also would not treat your own dog for anything based on blood tests showing low platelets.

I am sure some others will come in here on this issue and the specific elements you are asking about. Rod? Pat?

I would have your friend print out the info on platelets and give it to her vet (and I would refuse such treatment -- especially steroids which eventually have many potentially risky side effects! -- on a dog if there was no other problem except blood test results). I also would not treat your own dog for anything based on blood tests showing low platelets.

i said to her the same thing "print it, show your vet and talk to him". All the blood results just made me confused but i would not use steroids till i am %100 certain that there is more than low platelets...Thank you Karlin

... Last december for an annual check we had Duses' blood test that showed us PLT number was 20 which should have been 200-500 in Turkey. Ok not a suprise but MPV (Mean Platelets Volume) is (now i am looking at the test result) 7,5 which is between normal values (3,9- 11,1). here are my first question; if the number of platelets is low, MPV should have been high, right?

I think the mean platelets volume also takes into account the size of the platelets. Cavaliers tend to have some over-sized platelets, which is believed to account for their lower numbers.

Originally Posted by duseskiz

... Second question; is there any chance to be MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) and MCH(Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) high as in Duses' test MCV is 80 (should have been between 60-77) and MCH is 25,2 ( should have been between 19,5-24,5).

I don't know about this one.

Originally Posted by duseskiz

... Third Question; ... One of my friend's cavalier's blood test is the similar and their vet had said this could be a autoimmune disease (lymphocytes break the platelets as lymphocyte thinks platelets are stange organisms, that's why platelets numbers are low) they send blood sample to pathology and pathology confirmed it. The cavalier was on steroids for a month and nothing changed. Now they are waiting like 15 days as a break and then will start a treatmant again. I am concern now if this is true my baby might have the same disease. However, on the other hand, Duses does not show any symptom like red or purple dots on skin. In fact, she had patella and spaying surgeries last year without any problem including clotting. She seems like a very healty girl...I will discuss this with my vet but also i wanted to ask you.

I think you are exactly correct about the vets in this case. This is the typical hysterical reaction from ignorant vets who refuse to accept the fact that cavalier owners know more than they do.